Knitting machine



Aug. 27, 1935. H. E. HOUSEMAN 2,

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1953 6 Slieets-Sheet 1 mas/waxIV/T/VESS.

7, 1935. H. E. HOUSEMAN 7 2,012,310

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 flaro/a/E/fiaseman1935- I H. HOUSEMAN 2,012,310

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Aug. 27, 1935.H. E. HOUSEMAN 2,012,310

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patent ed Aug. 27,1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE KNITTING morons Harold E. Houseman,Laconia, N. H., assignor to Standard-Trump Bros. Machine Company,Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to aknitting machine and specifically a machine in which patterns areproduced by wrapping of needles by yarn carrying fingers which may beshogged relatively to the needles. The invention is particularly adaptedto rotary needle machineswhich are of the most satisfactory type foroperation but involve difliculties in, the production 01' shogging ofthe wrap fingers. 7

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a shogging controlwhich is adapted for the production of intricate patterns. shogging inthe past has been controlled from continuously ratcheted pattern drumsor, alternatively and better, by suitable set-ups of pattern chains. Theuse of a pattern drum for the production of shog-' ging is very poorlyadapted to rotary cylinder machines and, in any event, in either rotaryor stationary cylinder machines, only"very simple shogging sequences maybe obtained. When pattern chains are used, there is no theoretical limitto the character of the shogging sequence provided the chain is madesufficiently long. In the case of fine gauge hosiery, however, inwhichit may be desired to have a shogged pattern of non repetitive typeextending through a very substantial portion of the leg and instep, thenecessary pattern chain would have suchlength that it would not only bevery diiilcult to set up, but could not be conveniently handled.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel controllingarrangement is provided which is very compact and readily set up for theproduction of highly elaborate patterns. This shogging controllingdevice may be associated with means for selecting needles-for wrapping.In the preferredembodiment of the invention, extremely elaboratepatterns may be produced.

The present invention also makes possible setting up of the shoggingcontrolling mechanism for the production of a new stocking after one hasbeen finished; that is, if the wrap fingers are displaced from theiroriginal positions by shogging, then at the end of a wrapping operationand during the knitting of the portions of the stocking where nowrapping is desired, the wrap fingers may be brought back to theirinitial positions.

The various features of the invention particlarly relating to details ofconstruction, will be apparent from the following description read inconjunction. with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a knitting machine with various partsomitted and broken away to show more clearly the elements forming thesubject matter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of a similar nature; v

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing certain 5 shogging controllingelements, the section being taken on the plane indicated at 3-4 in Fig.2',

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken as indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing certain 10 details of theshogging controlling elements;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing a needle cylinder and cooperatingelements;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in sectionshowing wrap finger 1'5 controlling elements;

' Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation showing certain controlling meansconnecting the shogging control and needle selecting mechanisms;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation showing ratchet mechanism foreffecting shogging;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary views showing in plan variouselements of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section showing the driving arrangement for thewrap finger carrying head;

Fig. 14 is a developed interior vlew oi the cams operating upon needlesand their associated jacks and the wrap fingers; and

Figs. 15A and 15B indicate diagrammatically a a type "of patternproducible by the use of the present machine. 1

The machine which is specifically disclosed is of the rotary needlecylinder type provided with wrap fingers which are associated withindividual needles to carry wrap yarns about the same for the productionof individual needle wrapping. The machine is of the type illustratedand described in the application of Stanley R. Shelmire, Ser. No.623,057, filed July 18, 1932, to which reference may be made for a morecomplete description of certain elements which are not essentiallyconnected with the present invention. The shogging mechanism is in ageneral way similar to that illustrated in my prior application Ser. No.668,924, filed May 2, 1933,

Briefly stated, in its preferred form the machine is designed to producea double sole in a stocking by the addition of a yarn in the sole of thefoot portion, wrapping of the leg and instep being carried out duringrotary knitting. The wrapped designs are rendered more elaborate by theinclusion of shogging which serves to carry each wrap finger intocooperation with a series of adjacent'needles. The machine asillustrated .2 I comprises an elongated needle cylinder 2 which .carriesneedles 4 arranged in the usual fashion and provided with differentlength butts so that proper selection can be made for the usualvariations in knitting-common to the formation of the parts ofstockings. Thespecial elongation of the needle cylinder is provided forthe accommodation of jacks .5 and I, the former of which engage thelower ends of the needles and are provided with suitable butts, and thelatter of which have the formation indicated in Fig. 6,

so as to be rocked about a pivotal point intermediate their ends locatedabove seriesof butts illustrated in Fig. 6. The functions of these-jackswill be pointed out hereafter.

At its lower end the cylinder is provided with a ring gear 6 which isdriven through an intermediate gearing by the usual driving gear 8carried by the shaft III, the driving gear being driven by the usualmechanism designed to produce both rotation and reciprocation thereof.The driving gear is furnished, in the usual fashion, wlth a cam groove 9into which extends a follower roller carried by one arm of a'bell crankl3 which serves, by its oscillation and suitable ratchet connections, toadvancea pattern chain. In the present machine thisarm carries otherdevices associated with the shogging mechanism.

Theshaft l0 carries at its upper end a gear [2 driving a pinion l4carried by a shaft journalled in a bracket of the frame. The shaftcarrying the pinion I4 is provided with a lower member of a universaljoint l6, the upper.- member of which is connected with one section of atwo-part splined shaft 18 which, at its upper end, is connected througha universal joint 20, similar to l6, with a shaft 22 which carries apinion 24 meshing with a ring gear 26. The universal joints are of theconventional type which will maintain the pinions l4 and 24 in adefinite angular relationship irrespective of movements of translationof the pinion 24 so long as its axis remains parallel with the axis ofthe pinion Hi. It will be noted that the universal joints, together withthe splined arrangement, permit the axes to remain parallel in spite ofthe movements of the axis of the gear 24 about the axis of rotation ofthe needle cylinder, as will be hereafter described. The ring gear 26 iscarried by the bobbin plate 28, which carries a bearing ring rotating onthe top of the bracket 32 which, when in operative position, forms anintegral part of the machine frame although it may be tilted about theaxis indicated at 36 when the latch ring 3| is raised, or independentlyof said latch ring, the shaft l8, by reason of its splined construction,permitting this to occur. Secured to the bobbin plate is a tubularmember 34 extending inside an opening in the bracket 32, which providesa bearing for it. The lower end of this member 34 carries the wrapfinger supporting head 36, which is slotted and formed to provide apivotal support for wrap fingers 38 held therein in the usual fashion bya spring band. These wrap fingers are actuated, as will be pointed outhereafter, by means of suitable character to cause the lower ends tomove outwardly and inwardly between the needles 4 of the needle circleto produce wrapping, patterning being attained by the selection ofneedles. The lower ends of the wrap fingers are twisted in conventionalfashion so as to be cammed by the needles to one side in passingoutwardly and to the opposite side in passing inwardly. There is therebyproduced a motion of the wrap finger about the needle which it iswrapping.

The bracket 32 is provided with an external bearing surface concentricwith the axis of the wrap finger head and the needle cylinder in whichis journalled a carrier 42. A lateral extension of the carrier 42provides a journal for the shaft 22 and the pinion 24. By reason of theconcentric mounting of the carrier 42 and the gear 26,

- it will be seen that the pinion 24 will remain in sitely. The carrier42 is urged clockwise, as

viewed in plan, by a weight 45 connected to the carrier through a spring44 by a cable 43 passing over a pulley carried by a suitable fixedbracket.

An extension of the bracket 32 carries a stud 52 on which are journalledthree levers 54, 56 and 58, these levers being provided with extensionscarrying stop screws 59 urged into contact with an extension of theframe by individual springs 6| which urge the levers 54, and 58counterclockwise in opposition to actuating mechanism. At its upper endthe first of these levers carries a stud 60 on which is journalled apawl 62 the nose of which is urged towards the teeth 66 of the ratchetplate 46 by means of a spring 64 connected between the pawl and a postcarriedby the lever 54. A pin 68 carried by the pawl is arranged toengage the cam 16 carried by a fixed bracket 12 so that the pawl is heldout of contact with the teeth when in its retracted ratchet 46 as thepin 68 rides off the cam 10.

The cam in is provided primarily to normally hold the pawl 62 away fromthe teeth to permit reverse movements of the carrier 42.

A rod '14 carried by the lever 54 is provided with a spear head 15adapted to engage a cam I6 carried by the detent l8, which is mounted ona fixed stud 80 carried by the bracket 32 and urged by a spring 82 tobring its nose into engagement with teeth 84 of the ratchet plate 48. Alateral extension of the arm 54 pivotally supports a lever H which isurged by a strong spring 8| into engagement with a stop pin 19 carriedby the extension. The lever ll isin horizontal alignment with thesloping left-hand surface of the pawl 18, as viewed in Fig. 11. Thearrangement of the parts is such that as rod 14 advances during forwardmovements of the pawl 62, the spear head 15 engages the cam 16 todisengage the detent #8 from a tooth 84 just prior to the engagement ofthe pawl 62 with a tooth 66. As the spear head moves further, its pointpasses beyond the inward point of the cam 76 thereby releasing thedetent 18, permitting it to again move between the teeth 84 as soon asthe pawl 62 has advanced the carrier 46 to such extent as to move thelast engaged tooth 84 beyond thenose of the pawl 18. To insure that thepawl 78 moves inwardly, the lever TI is urged to engage it to provide aforce in addition to that exerted by the spring 82. The pawl isaccordingly in position to engage the next tooth 84 before the-pawl 62reaches its ex- 1 treme forward position. The timing of these parts willbe described in more detail hereafter. The detent 18 is not onlyprovided for the purpose of properly aligning the wrap fingers with theneedles, but additionally to hold the carrier in position duringreciprocation, at which time the weight 45 might be insufilcient to holdit sufilciently rigid to prevent objectionable vibration. The pawl 18has this function in addition to its more important function, which willbe brought out hereafter.

Also journalled upon the stud-80 are detents 80 and 88 of differentlengths, as indicated in Fig. 12. These detents are arranged toalternately engage teeth 90 of the ratchet plate 50 to hold the same inopposition to the effort of the weight 45. The detents 88 and 88 areyieldingly held in operative engagement with the teeth 90 by means ofsprings 92 reacting between them and a fixed pin on the machine frame.It is to be noted that the angular spacing of the teeth 50 is double thespacing of the teeth 66. The lengths of pawls 88 and 88 are such that asthey are alternatively tripped, the carrLer may move backwardly in stepsunder the action of weight 45 through the angular spacing of teeth 66.

Members 94 and 96 carried by the upper ends of levers 55 and 58respectively are designed to engage the pawls 85 and 88 to trip them outof engagement with the teeth 90. The operation is such that the members94 and 96 are alternately moved so that backward steps of proper angularamount are produced by the alternate freeing of the detents 86 and 88from the teeth 90.

An adjustable stop 91 is carried by the carrier 42, and is arranged tolimit its movement under the action of weight 45 by engaging a portionof the frame such as 99. The object of this will be later described.This stop arrangement may be removed when a full movement of the carrieris desired.

The levers 54, 55 and 58 are respectively engaged by three leversindicated at I00, pivoted to a common stud and urged in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 1, by springs I02 to bring them intoengagement with a stop post l04. At their lower ends the respectivelevers are provided with adjustable contact screws I08 engageable by theends of respective levers I08 wh'ch are selectively positioned to moveeither above or below a guard IIO by the action of means operating upontheir upwardly extending rear ends during their retracting strokes.Springs I I2 urge the levers I08-in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 4, about their pivotal connection with the bell crank I3,which has oscillating movements imparted to it by the earn 9 previouslydescribed. The movements of the levers I08 are limited by transversepins H4 and I I6.

Pins I I! carried by bell cranks II8 are positioned in the paths ofthe.upwardly turned ends of the levers I08 to selectively engage them asthey move rearw-ardly. The bell cranks II 8 are pivoted upon a commonupright post I20 and are urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewedin plan, by individual springs I22 connecting them with a member I24 inthe form of a pivoted lever whose angular position may be adjusted' bymeans of a stop screw I26.

By the action of the springs I22, pins I32 carried by the forwardlyextending arms of the bell cranks I I8 are brought into engagement withoutwardly turned ends of levers I28 and I30,

' levers I30.

which are pivoted upon a common post as indicated in Figs. 1 and'2. Thelevers I28 and I38 are urged counterclockwise, as viewed in plan, byindividual springs I31 connected to lever I24 previously mentioned.Their counterclockwise movements are limited by engagement with aneccentric upright stop pin I34 adapted for fine adjustment by rotationto insure a proper positioning of the levers I 28 and I30. These variouslevers are provided with noses I33 which are adapted to be engaged bytricks carried by a trick wheel I35.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, there arethree-levers I28 and nine The levers I28 perform different functionsfrom the levers I30 and are hence differently designated. They do,however, together with the levers I30, form four sets, each containingthree adjacent levers. The uppermost of each of these sets is providedwith a lateral extension engageable with the most forward of the pinsI32. The next lever of each set is engageable with the middle pin I32and the lowest lever of each set is engageable with the rearmost pinI32. This will be evident from an examination of Figs. 1 and 2. Byreason of this arrangement, it will be seen that each of the pins I32 isadapted to be moved by four of the levers. Three of-the four leversadapted to engage any particular pin control active shogging movements;the other is adapted to control idle shogging movements serving to bringback the wrap finger headto an initial position proper for the beginningofv patterning of a subsequent stocking.

The trick wheel I35 is provided with a ratchet I36 of which more will besaid later. The trick wheel is vertically slotted to receive trickshaving frangible butts, which tricks are held in position in the trickwheel by a suitable spring band as indicated at I4I. Preferably upperand lower sets of tricks are provided, as indicated at I38 and I40. Thepurpose of this arrangement is to make more readily effected the returnof the shogging mechanism to initial position by the use of separatetricks for this purpose. By this arrangement, it is possible to set upthe tricks I40 to produce a suitably shogged pattern without taking intoaccount the matter of how the return to initial position need beefiected. Later the separate tricks I38 may be inserted as is foundnecessary to set up the mechanism for the beginning of a new cycle ofoperation. The adjustment of the post I34 is preferably such that thenose I33 of each of the levers is caused to just clear the trick wheelsurface or the portions of the tricks which do not contain butts. Thisavoids excessive wear and resistance to movement of the trick wheel.

In addition to the trick wheel control of the levers I 28, there isprovided an auxiliary control for these levers in the form of a memberI42 carried by the lever I44, which is provided with a cam follower I48engageable with a suitable cam I50 carried by the main cam disc II,which is stepped about in the conventional fashion during the operationof the machine to effect various changes in operation. The member I42 isdesigned to engage laterally extending ears on all three of the leversI28 so as to render them simultaneously inoperative.

A second trick wheel I52 is provided for the control of needle selectionfor the purpose of producing selective wrapping. This trick wheel, likethe trick wheel I35, is provided with a ratchet designated I54. The twotricks wheels are simultaneously stepped about by'the oscillations of abell crank I56 which carries a pawl I58 engaging the teeth of theratchet I36 under the action of a spring I60 and also a pawl I62engaging the teeth of ratchet I54 under the action of spring I64. Thebell crank I56 is oscillated during the operation of the machine by alink connection I66 toa lever I68 which is provided with'a follower endadapted to be acted upon by lugs "0 of a pattern chain which is advancedin the usual fashion by the action of a pawl on the end of the.oscillating arm I3. The ratchet I36 is providedwith one-low tooth I12while the ratchet I54 is provided with a similar low tooth I14. A guardcam I'I6 pivoted concentrically with the trick wheel I is provided withthree steps I18, I80 and I82 which are selectively engageable with theend of pawl I58 in its normal range of movement. A similar guardplateI83 is associated with the ratchet I54, be-

'. I88 cooperating with the pawl I62.

ing provided similarly with steps I84, I86 and The two guard plates "6and I83 are" connected by a link I90. Guard plate I83 is provided withan extension I92 engageable by the lever I94 secured to a shaft I98which is controlled by a suitable series of cams I96 carried by the camdrum, which is formed as an extension of the main pattern cam disc I5I.When the steps I18 and I84 are opposite the paths of movement of thepawls I58 and I62, respectively, these pawls may engage all of the teethof the ratchet plates, including the low teeth, and hence intermittentlyadvance the trick wheels. This is the normal position of both of theguardplates'duringoperation. If the high steps I82 and I89 engage thepawls, then the pawls reciprocate idly without'engaging any of the teethand consequently the trick wheels are stopped. This is the conditionwhen it is desired that a temporary stopping of the trick wheels shouldbe effected as, for example, during the reciprocatory knitting of 'theheel, when it is not desired to interrupt the continuity of the wrappattern, which may extend from the ankle into the instep.

Mid-position of the guard plates brings the intermediate steps I80 andI86 adjacent the paths of reciprocation of the pawls. Under theseconditions, the pawls will engage all of the normal teethof the ratchetsand will hence advance the-trick wheels. They will, however, be posi--tioned outwardly to such extent as not to engage the-low teeth "2 andI14. Consequently, when these teeth come around, the pawls willreciprocate idly in engagement with the steps E00 and I86 and the trickwheels will remain at rest.

The positions thus attained by the trick wheels are those desired at thebeginning of the operation in the knittingof a new stocking. Thepatterns accordingly begin from. positions corresponding to thislocation of the low teeth.

A number of devices are controlled from the main pattern drum throughconnections involving a plurality of concentrically nested shafts. Threeof such shafts, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 8-, are provided with arms200 connected by means jacks. These levers are normally urged towardsoperative position by suitable individual springs, and under the actionof such springs have follower portions thereof brought into position tobe engaged by tricks on the trick wheel I52. The trick wheel is setup bythe provision of a suitable butt arrangement to selectively actuate thevarious levers 208 and thereby cause the ends 209 thereof to selectivelycontact with the butts on the lower jacks. There are three levers 204each of which acts upon a group of levers 208. When the levers 204 arerocked in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, theirrespective groups of levers 208 are rendered inoperative, beingwithdrawn both from the face of the trick wheel and also from the pathsof the butts of the lower jacks. At this point, there may be mentionedthe fact that there is provided one lever of the same type as 208located at the bottom of the stack, the active end of which isdesignated 2 in Fig. 14. This particular leveris not used for the samepurpose as the others, but, as will be pointed out later, for thepurpose of preventing the sole needles from rising to take wrap yarnsduring the knitting of the foot. This particular lever is controlledfrom the main pattern drum throughone of the nested levers by theconnections indicated at 2I3.

Each of the links 202 is provided with a plurality of nuts forming anabutment for actuating a lever 2I2, which has an active end acting uponthe extensions 2I4 provided on its corresponding set of levers I30. Whenany of the levers 204 is rocked to render the corresponding set oflevers 208 inoperative, the corresponding The two trick wheels arecorconnected to a composite adjustable arm 2 I8 carserves to draw downthe needles during rotation.

These are associated with the usual pickers, switch cams, etc., and inthe-embodiment shown, also with gusset cams which, however, form no partof the present invention. relative positions indicated are various jackcams including a jack-raising cam 228 which is adapted to engageshoulders 23! provided on the jacks to raise the jacks and, throughthem, the

needles, to a position where the needles may take wrap yarns. Wrappingoccurs when the shoulders 23! of the jacks rest upon the surface 230 ofthecam 220. Thereafter the inwardly bevelled surface 232 of the camserves to disengage the shoulders 23! from the cam 228. The cam surface223 thenengages the butts on the intermediate jacks to draw theintermediate and lower Located in the jacks downwardly. A guard cam 234prevents downward overrun of the lower jacks. A cam 236 provided with aleveling surface 238 serves to raise the lower jacks accurately toposition where their various butts will be properly aligned with theactive ends 209 of the jack pressing levers. As indicated in Fig. 6, thejacks are formed so that they may rock within the needle slots. A cam220 serves to insure the outward movement of the lower ends of the jacksto bring the shoulders 23! into position for engagement with the cam236.

The principal selection for wrapping occurs due to the selective raisingof needles as just indicated. Some selection of wrap fingers, however,is made, and adequate means must be provided for causing the wrapfingers to move outwardly through the needle circle and then inwardly tocause them to place yarn within the hooks of the needles to be wrapped.Cams 240 and 242 engage upper and lower butts of the wrap fingersrespectively. A cam 244 arranged to engage the wrap fingers below theirpivots tends to return their lower ends within the needle circle. Thecams 240 and 242 are pivotedupon a vertical pin and are selectivelyrendered operative by being moved inwardly through the actionof camlevers 246 against the tension of their respective springs 24I and 243.The levers 246 are engaged by the upper ends of levers 248, which arerocked by the action of arms 250 carried by shafts nested upon the shaftI88. These shafts are provided with arms 252 engageable by cams on themain pattern drum.

The operations involved in producing shogging may now be described. Thespecific set up of the trick wheels will be later referred to. However,for the present, it maybe pointed out that in the absence of a butt on atrick engaging the follower end of a lever I30, such lever will be urgedto its extreme counterclockwise position, as viewed in plan, by itsspring I36, and will then engage the corresponding pin I32 to rock thelever II8 clockwise against the tension of its spring I22. The springsI22 as well as the springs II2 are weaker in their effects than thesprings I36. As the arm I3 swings rearwardly, the lever I08, which liesin the path of the pin I ll of the clockwise positioned lever I I8, willengage such pin, with the result that the horizontal portion of thatlever I08 will .be positioned below the plane of the guard H0. The setupof the trick wheel will be such that at this same time the other twolevers H8 will be in their proper counterclockwise positions, since thecorresponding levers I30 will be engaged by butts on the trick wheelwhile the other groups of levers I30 will be held away from tricks by 8their levers 2I2. In the rearward stroke, when the engaged lever I08strikes tthe stop pin I I0, the corresponding lever H8 and its actuatinglever I38 will yield against the corresponding spring I36 to some slightextent. Upon the subsequent forward oscillation of the lever I3, thelever I08, which has been engaged, will pass under the guard I I whilethe other levers will extend above this guard. By reason of its bankingby the guard N0, the lever I08 will engage the pin I06 of thecorresponding lever I00 and will rock the same counterclockwise, asviewed in Fig. 1, against the action of its spring I02. From this itwill be obvious that with a proper setup of butts in the trick wheel,the three levers I00 may be selectively rocked; this in turn serves torock clockwise the respective levers 54, 56 and 58 with the resultswhich will now be described.

The operation of forwardly shogging the wrap fingers relatively to theneedles is effected by a stroke of the lever 54. The stroke imparted tothe corresponding lever I00 is such that if there were no interruptionof the forward movement of the pawl 62 the pawl would advance to carrythe plate 46 through an angular distance greater than the angularspacing between adjacent teeth 66. As will be pointed out, such movementis prevented, the excess movement imparted to the corresponding leverI00 being taken up in a slight, springing of the levers I00 and 54. Asthe lever 54 begins its forward movement and before the pawl 62 engagesa tooth 66, the detent I8 is released from the tooth 84, in front ofwhich it lies, by the action of the spear head upon the cam "I6. Ingeneral, the detent 18 would not engage a tooth at this time but wouldhave a very slight clearance therewith, the carrier being positioned byengagement of one of the detents 86 or 86 with a tooth 90 under theaction of the weight 45. As soon as the detent I8 is moved out of thepath of the tooth 84, the pawl 62 engages a tooth 66 and advances thecarrier against the action of the weight 45. As soon as the tooth 84previously lying against the detent I8 moves therebeyond, the detent I8is released andpositively forced into the path of the next tooth 84 bythe action of the spring 82 and the springtensioned lever 11. Thereafterthe pawl 62 continues to advance the carrier, this advance stopping whenthe next tooth 84 engages the pawl 18. The excess movement imparted tothe lever I0!) is then taken up by springing of the parts. By providingfor this, there is definite assurance that a tooth 84 will be engagedwith the detent 78. As engagement of a tooth 84 with the detent 18 takesplace, one of the detents 88 or 86 will drop in front of the next tooth80 so that, when the pawl 62 is withdrawn, one of these detents willhold the carrier in its advanced position. In view of the action ofsnubbing pawl or detent 18 which substantially tends to hold the carrierin the same position as the detents 86 and 88, the wrap fingers arepositioned relatively to the needles for wrapping even before theforward effort applied to the pawl 62 has ceased and, of course,considerably before it is permitted to move in its retracting stroke.The period of advance of the carrier is thus cut down to such extentthat wrapping is interrupted for only a relatively short time which inpractice is found to be of the same order as the time during whichwrapping must be interrupted to permit reverse movements of the carrier,since, of course, wrapping cannot take place during the relativemovements of the wrap fingers and needles inasmuch as the wrap fingerspass through the needle circle.

Reversing of the carrier takes place by the alternate tripping of thedetents 86 and 88 and the effort of the weight 45. Such tripping is, ofcourse, effected by movements' of the corresponding levers I00. The pawlor detent I8 will yield to permit the teeth 84 to pass during suchreverse shogging movements, while the pawl 62 is held out of the path ofteeth 66 by the cam 10. The use of the weight 45 insures an even tensionbeing exerted upon the detents and pawl 62 in all positions of movementof the carrier. A short spring is somewhat unsatisfactory for thispurpose, since the tension changes very substantially as the shoggingtakes place from the central position. The spring 44 interposed in thecable 43 serves to smooth out the intermittent movements of the weight45, which then, by

of considerable complication.

tionship to successive needles.

reason of its inertia, relatively slowly follows the movements of thecarrier. Swinging and jarrin movements are thus minimized.

If, instead of alternatively tripping the detents 86 and 88, both ofthem are tripped simultaneously, the carrier 42 will move to an extremeposition determined by engagement of the adjustable stop 91 with theportion of the frame indicated at 99. By reasonof this arrangement, itis possible to produce forward shogging in individual needle steps andthen instantaneously cause a return of the carrier to its extremeclockwise position. Interrupted shogged patterns may be thus producedor, alternatively, shogged patterns The adjustable stop 91 is preferablycarried by a removable arm so that, under usual circumstances, the fullrange of the ratchets may be used to produce wide shogged patterns. Theabove describes the general operations involved in forward and backwardshogging of the wrap fingers relative to the needles. The advance of thewrap finger carrier through the medium of movement of the pinion 24,which forms an element of the epicyclic gear train providing the drivebetween the needle cylinder and the wrap finger carrier, may be noted.The operation will be clear from a consideration of what would occur ifthe needle cylinder and gears l2 and I4 were held stationary andmovements were imparted to the carrier 42. In such case the angularposition with respect to the frame of the machine of the pinion 24 wouldremain fixed, inasmuch as universal joints are of such type that theangular relationship between pinions 24 and I4 when the wrap finger headis in its operative position is fixed, since then the axes of the twopinions always remain parallel. Under such conditions, it is obviousthat a movement of the carrier 42 will cause a rotation of the gear 26and consequently of the wrap fingers associated therewith, serving todisplace the wrap fingers so as to carry them into cooperativerelationship with different needles. The teeth 46 are angularly spacedso that the angle between any pair of them corresponds to the angularmovement of the carrier 36 equal to the angular spacing of adjacentneedles. As a result, successive advances of the carrier 42 throughangles corresponding to the spacings of the teeth 46 will result insuccessive positions of the wrap fingers in operative rela- While theabove is discussed from the standpoint of having the needle cylinder anddriving connections stationary, it will be obvious that the same resultswill occur when the needle cylinder is moving if the carrier is steppedabout in the same fashion, so that the total movement of wrap fingers inany given time is equal to the algebraic sum of the rotary movement ofthe needle cylinder and the movement due to the stepping of the carrier42. Accordingly, by the operation of the pawls as described above, thewrap fingers are caused to cooperate with successive needles insuccessive courses during rotary knitting. It may be pointed out thatthe angular spacing of teeth 46 is not equal to the angular spacing ofthe needles, the spacing being different to an extent depending upon theratio of the pinion 24 to the gear 26.

As has been pointed out above, selective wrapping is effected by raisingneedles into position to receive the wrap yarns, those needles which arenot raised being unwrapped, even though the wrap fingers may passthrough their usual Wrapping movements, as will in general be the case.The operation of selecting needles may be best described with referenceto Figs. 6 and 14. Following the drawing of the stitches, the needlesand jacks will be in lowered positions. As lower jacks pass the locationof the cam 220, their upper ends will be engaged thereby with the resultthat their lower ends will be rocked outwardly, bringing their shoulders23'! into position to engage the cam 238. This cam serves to, level thejacks to a proper position so that their butts at various levels will bealigned properly with corresponding active ends 209 of the levers 208.By providing the lower jacks with butts properly arranged. and byproviding butts in proper locations on the tricks of the trick wheelI52, certain of the lower jacks will be rocked inwardly by engagement oflevers 268 with their butts. The jacks whose lower ends are thus rockedinwardly will fail to engage the cam 228 and consequently will remain attheir low level and will not force upwardly their corresponding needlesto take wrap yarn. Such needles will then remain unwrapped.

On the other hand, those jacks whose lower ends were not rocked inwardlywill have their shoulders 23'! engaged by the rising surface of the cam228 and will-rise topositions corresponding to the level 230, when theirneedles will have been raised to position to take wrap yarns presentedby the wrap fingers, which are then rocked outwardly and later inwardlyby the action of cams 240, 242 and 244. Following this, the intermediateand lower jacks are forced downwardly by the action of cam 223, leavingthe needles free to pass through the usual knitting wave over cam 224and beneath cams 222 and 226.

The operation of the machine in the knitting of a stocking will now bedescribed, particular reference being made to Figs. 15A and 15B, thelatter of which is a continuation of the former, which figuresillustrate a simple pattern producible by the use of the mechanismalready described. The two figures overlap to some slight extent, theidentical courses being indicated at X. The diagram illustrates a clockformed in a stocking whose courses and wales are represented by the rowsand columns of squares respectively. The hatched squares at the left ofthe diagram represent the loops which are wrapped, while at the right ofthe diagram there is indicated, by the zigzag line, the progress ofshogging throughout the making of the pattern. -The initial setup of thewrap fingers in relation to the needles with which they cooperate isindicate at W. The pattern, down to approximately the point A, isgoverned by the setup of the trick wheel operating upon the lowermostset of levers H0 and also the lowermost set of levers 298. The portionfrom A to B is controlled by the trick wheel setup acting on theintermediate set of levers l3ll and the intermediate set of levers 208.The portion from B to C is controlled by the uppermost correspondingsets of these levers. In the operation, the portion down to the point Amay be formed by substantially a complete revolution of each trickwheel. It will be noted that the initial short shog at the top of theclock would again appear if the trick wheel made more than a singlerevolution while the lower set of levers l 30 and 268 were active. Toavoid this, the lower sets of levers are rendered inactive through themedium of the lever 200 and the connections thereto and the intermediatesets of levers are put into operation. As pointed out, these may formthe portion A to B. In some instances it might be desirable that theintermediate portion of a design should be repeated in whole or in part.Under such circumstances, the trick wheel could make more than arevolution up to, for example, a plurality of revolutions, eithercomplete or partial. The upper set of levers can then be rendered activein place of the intermediate set to finish the pattern, as indicated,between B and C. Some of the pattern may be discontinued as indicated atH, where the clock stops at the top of the heel. v

If H represents the point of beginning the heel, this will be the timewhen the high steps of the guard plates I16 and I83 are brought intoengagement with the pawls so that the pawls may reciprocate idly duringthe reciprocatory knitting of the heel while the trick wheelsretaintheir positions to continue operation during the formation of thefoot portion of the stocking.

Following the completion of the desired design, all of the levers I and208 may be rendered inactive; The levers I28 are then rendered active by.control of the lever I44 by the main I cam disc with the result thatshogging takes place as indicated at D, serving to bringthe wrap fingercarrier intoits initial position relative to the needles. After this hasbeen accomplished, for example, during the formation of the ring toe,all of the trick wheel followers, namely the levers I30, I28 and 208, aswell as 2, may be rendered inactive while stepping of the trick wheelscontinues with the intermediate steps I80 and I86 opposite therespective pawls I58 and I62. The trick wheels will then be steppedaround until the low teeth I12 and I14 come opposite the pawls,whereupon the trick wheels will stop in their initial positions readyfor control of wrapping of a subsequent stocking.

It is desirable to provide the levers I28 and the upper tricks of wheelI35 for emergencies, although this may not be necessary, since thereturn to initial shogging may be eflected during the latter part of therotation of the trick wheel I35 if such latter rotation is not necessaryfor the production of shogged patterns. During the restoration of thewrap fingers to initial position, wrapping may be discontinued either bya proper setup of the needle selecting trick wheel I52 or by the controlof cams 2M and 242. The discontinuation of the portion of the wrapdesign which might extend into the heel or the lower portion of thefootcan also be eifected by a proper setup of wrap fingers, those wrapfingers, for example which cooperate with needles located at the rear ofthe stocking being provided with upper butts, whereas the front needlesare provided with lower butts. If, therefore, the cam 240 is renderedinactive while 242 remains active, there will be no wrapping occurringon the rear needles. The beginning or cessation of wrapping may, ofcourse, be effected in numer-.

ous ways, as indicated in the description, by the use of the variouscontrols. Needle selection, for example, by the use of the auxiliarylever 2 may be provided to cut out wrapping on any desired set ofneedles associated with jacks having butts in position to be engaged bythe lever M I.

One desirable mode of operation is indicated in the diagram, in which,at first glance, it might appear that unnecessary shogging takes place.This is indicated in the upper portion of Fig. 15A, although the' sametype of operation occurs in other portions of the same design. By asubstantial amount of shogging during the production of a straightportion, the floats F may be tied into wrapped loops, as indicated, soas to minimize the lengthsof vertical floats and avoid the necessity forcutting them out.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A knitting machine including needles, fingers arranged to feed wrapyarns to the needles, means for shogging the fingers relatively to theneedles, and pattern mechanism for controlling the shogging means, saidpattern mechanism including a plurality of pattern controlling devices,separate sets of followers actuated by said devices and arranged toefiect shogging movements, each set including independent followers forproducing both forward and backward shogging, and means for renderingsaid sets of followers selectively operative whereby the shogging isselectively controlled by the various devices to produce differentpatterns.

2. A knitting machine including needles, fingers arranged to feed wrapyarn to the needles, means for shogging the fingers relatively to theneedles, said shogging meanscomprising ratchet mechanism, an oscillatingmember, a plurality of elements carried by said oscillating member, acorresponding plurality of abutments, each selectively movable tooperative or inoperative position and arranged, when in operativeposition, to

engage and set up a corresponding element in movement in one directionto arrange it to control said ratchet mechanism during movement in theopposite direction, sets of pattern mechanism moving together cyclicallyside by side and adapted to dictate different shogging sequences,devices joining each of said abutments with each of said sets of patternmechanism, and means for rendering the sets selectively active, wherebythe shogging sequences during successive cycles of said sets may bevaried.

3. A knitting machine including needles, fingers arranged to feed wrapyarns to the needles, means for shogging the fingers relatively to theneedles, said shogging means comprising ratchet mechanism, a pluralityof members, each selectively movable to operative or inoperativeposition and arranged, when in operative position, to efiectpredetermined control of the ratchet mechanism, sets of patternmechanism moving together cyclically side by side and adapted to dictatediflfer'ent shogging sequences, devices joining each of said memberswith each of said sets of pattern mechanism, and means for rendering thesets selectively active, whereby the shogging sequences duringsuccessive cycles of said sets may be varied.

4. A knitting machine including needles, fingers arranged to feed wrapyarns to the needles, means for shogging the fingers relatively to theneedles, said shogging means comprising ratchet mechanism, sets ofpattern mechanism moving together cyclically side by side and adapted todictate different shogging sequences, devices associated with said setsof pattern mechanism and adapted to control the ratchet mechanism, therebeing associated with each set of pattern mechanism a plurality of suchdevices having different functions, each of which functions isrepresented by one such device associated with each set of patternmechanism, and means for rendering the sets selectively active, wherebythe shogging sequences during successive cycles of said sets may bevaried.

5. A' knitting machine including needles, fingers arranged to feed wrapyarns to the needles,

means for shagging the fingers relatively to the needles, sets ofpattern mechanism moving tosets of pattern mechanism being provided withseparate series of elements for controlling forward and backwardshagging movements, separate members operative to effect forward andbackward shagging movements, means whereby each of said members isoperable by elements of corresponding function in all 01' said sets, andmeans for rendering the sets selectively active, whereby the shaggingsequences during successive cycles of said sets may be varied.

6. A knitting machine including needles, fingers arranged to feed wrapyarns to the needles, means farshogging the fingers relatively to theneedles, sets of pattern mechanism moving together cyclically side byside and adapted to cantral the shagging means to dictate difierentshagging sequences, means for moving said sets through only a smallportion of a cycle during the knitting of any course, means forrendering the sets selectively active during wrapping to control theshagging means whereby the shagging sequences during successive cyclesof said sets may be varied, and means for rendering one of the setsactive during a period of knitting when no wrapping is taking place torestore the fingers to an initial position relative to the needles.

'7. A knitting machine including needles, finaoiasia members with eachof said sets of pattern mechanism, and means for rendering the setsselectively active, whereby the shagging sequences during successivecycles of said sets may be varied.

a. A knitting machine including needles,'fln-' gers arranged to feedwrap yarns to the needles, means !or shagging the fingers relatively tothe needles, sets of'pattern mechanism moving together cyclically sideby side and adapted to dictate diflerent shagging sequences, devicesassociated with said sets of pattern mechanism and adapted to controlthe shagging means, there being associated with each set of patternmechanisma plurality of such devices having difierent functions, each a!which functions is represented by one such device associated with eachset of pattern mechanism, and means for rendering the sets selectivelyactive, whereby the shagging sequences during successive cycles of saidsets may be varied.

9.A knitting machine including needles, fingers arranged to feed wrapyarns to the needles, means for shagging the fingers relatively to theneedles, sets at pattern mechanism moving to-= gether cyclically side byside and adapted to dictate diflerent shagging sequences, each of saidsets of pattern mechanism being provided with separate series 01'elements for controlling far-,

during successive cycles at said sets may be varied. I

e E. non. [as-1

